Iraq bans gas flaring near homes, but its oil ministry just pushed the end date to 2029
Iraqi law prohibits gas flaring within about six miles of homes, but a 2022 BBC investigation found flares burning less than two miles from homes on the outskirts of Basra, and a leaked Health Ministry report blamed air pollution for a 20 percent rise in cancer in Basra between 2015 and 2018. In May 2024 Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said he aimed to eliminate flaring within three to five years. In July 2026 Oil Minister Basim Khudair said the target was now the end of 2028 or early 2029, after the World Bank listed Iraq among the top flaring countries in 2025. A Basra Governorate Council official told Jummar in July 2026 that the council had recommended activating fines on non-compliant companies, and an activist said several of Basra's air-monitoring stations were out of service.
The target is to terminate gas flaring by the end of 2028 or early 2029, Khudair said.
Despite Iraqi law prohibiting flaring within 6 miles of homes, a BBC investigation found areas ... less than 2 miles from people's front doors
Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani said he aimed to eliminate gas flaring within three to five years.
several of Basra's environmental monitoring stations remain out of service
making polluters compensate those who have suffered, as required by Iraqi law
Oil minister said the target is to end gas flaring by the end of 2028 or early 2029.
"The target is to terminate gas flaring by the end of 2028 or early 2029."
Not yet contacted for this story.
BP said flaring at Rumaila fell more than 65 percent over seven years and further cuts are planned.
No outcome recorded yet.